John Block’s fraud trial set for October

Northern Cape ANC leader John Block.

The trial of Northern Cape ANC leader John Block and seven others will begin in the Northern Cape High Court on October 28, the NPA has said.

The date was set during a brief appearance in the Kimberley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, the province’s National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Phaladi Shuping said.

The trial was scheduled to run until December 13.

Block, who is also the province’s finance MEC, would appear with social development MEC Alvin Botes, ANC MP Yolanda Botha, three officials from the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa), and a businessman.

They are accused of fraud, corruption and money laundering, allegedly involving R49 million, between May 2005 and December 2009.

In November, Block, Botes, Botha and Trifecta director Christo Scholtz were granted bail of R50 000 each.

Their co-accused, Sassa officials Rodney Saal, Calvin Rayland and Palesa Lebona, were released on bail of R5 000 each.

- Sapa